EVERETT, OCT.14: Lacie Nelson, also known as the “Idea Woman” to her wife Emily, wondered one day, “What if there was a family-friendly taproom…with frozen yogurt?”
Emily said that Lacie was always throwing out ideas and that this particular pitch she “didn’t hate.” Eventually, Emily agreed to take the leap.
Now, the two are owners of The Ice Cream Bar in downtown Everett, 2810 Colby Ave.
The official grand opening is at noon on Friday, Oct. 18. There will be music bingo, also known as “Mingo”, face painting, ice cream, beer, snacks, food and floats.
When you first walk into the store you are greeted with 12 beers on tap. If you want a beer float, that is no problem! Emily suggests pairing a Porter with vanilla ice cream. Not a beer fan? There is wine, cider and non-alcoholic options as well.
There are also four soft-serve options, two of which change weekly. Their most popular flavor is Pineapple Dole Whip, which is dairy-free and vegan. There are also topping options of your choosing.
Emily and Lacie’s main goal is to foster a family-friendly environment. In the back of The Ice Cream Bar, there is a gated kids play area. The area next to it is dedicated to older kids up to eight years old.
“When my wife and I would try to go to a brewery you can bring your kids, it’s ‘family friendly’, but you have to wrangle your kids the whole time or they are getting into stuff and climbing on you,” Emily said, “This is so the kids are entertained and the parents can relax, have a beer, ice cream and hang out.”
The Nelsons met in southern Oregon, eventually moving back north to be closer to their families. They have been together for 12 years and have two small children.
Both are Washington locals, Emily growing up in Issaquah, and Lacie in Lake Stevens. They moved to Everett to be closer to Lacie’s work.
Before opening an ice cream bar, Emily had an Etsy shop selling newborn photography props and later transitioned into wedding jewelry.
The Nelsons wanted to open a business on a grander scale, but nothing seemed like the right fit, Emily said.
“I really wanted to be a part of the community too, enhance our community downtown and be a part of making Everett into more,” Emily said.
Emily said that in the near future, she wants The Ice Cream Bar to become a safe place for teens to hang out, offering a teen night. Other ideas include Toddler Tuesday, Trivia, and game night.
The Ice Cream Bar also offers eight items from its kitchen menu. The most popular order is the tuna melt Emily said. The food is simple for all picky tastebuds and delicious for the mature ones.
You can also find a freezer of ice cream pints, ice cream bars and other chilled drinks and snacks.
As they continue to grow, The Ice Cream Bar will switch out their inventory with local beer and ice cream.
Their current hours are 2-8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. They will soon be extending their hours to six days a week. Follow them on Instagram here.
